The effects of a foliar spray containing phosphorus and zinc on the development, composition and yield of forage maize |
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Authors: | K. A. Leach,& A. Hameleers |
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Affiliation: | Scottish Agricultural College, Crichton Royal Farm, Dumfries, UK |
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Abstract: | Forage maize grown in areas where spring temperatures are low and accumulated heat is limited will be restricted in terms of maturity and thus nutritional value. A stagnant growth phase is commonly caused by low temperatures between germination and the five-leaf stage, which could be caused by reduced mineral availability. The effects on maize plant development and harvest characteristics of supplying phosphorus and zinc to young plants in a foliar spray were investigated. Three different application dates, between the four-leaf and the seven-leaf stage, were compared. Applying the phosphorus and zinc foliar spray at the four-leaf stage resulted in a significant ( P < 0·05) increase in starch content at harvest. Cob index [proportion of plant dry matter (DM) in the cob] was increased ( P < 0·05) by applying the nutrient spray at the four-, five- and seven-leaf stages. However, there was no effect on DM yield, suggesting some alteration in partitioning within the plant. |
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Keywords: | forage maize foliar application of P and Zn development dry-matter yield chemical composition |
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